125 Attend Great Lakes Regional Conference in Sandusky, Ohio
125 Attend Great Lakes Regional Conference in Sandusky, Ohio
Over 100 attendees and exhibitors from eight states and provinces gathered at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio, for the Great Lakes Regional Conference this week. GEAPS’ Seaway, Michigan/So. Ontario and Hoosier chapters plan the event. The conference included an expo hall with over 30 exhibitors and seven education sessions.
GEAPS Executive Director Steve Records attended to give an update on GEAPS’ plans for the future, attend chapter meetings and interact with GEAPS members. “My first six months on the job have been incredibly exciting,” Records said. “We are exploring a number of ways to build the value of GEAPS, improve the impact of our existing programming, be more accessible to our members and expand to new audiences.”
After attending two chapter meetings, Records acknowledge the passion of the GEAPS members in attendance. He said a number of his conversations centered on ways to leverage that excitement and energy to expand GEAPS’ network.
Attendee Brandon Lidster, Michigan Agricultural Commodities, attended from Blissfield Michigan. It was his first time attending a GEAPS event of any kind. He has a degree in environmental health and safety and has been working in the grain industry since last September.
Education sessions included a grain market outlook, employee onboarding, leveraging partnerships and crisis communications. Other activities included a tour of the Kalahari water park, bingo and a private rental of the water park.
The event will not be held next year with GEAPS Exchange taking place Feb. 20-23, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. When the Great Lakes Regional Conference resumes in 2022, it will move to Fort Wayne, Indiana.
